After narrowly missing last year, and a severe injury to a team member’s son, Kim Bergeron of Dublin and Jean-Pierre “JP” Bernier of Hancock completed the Pro Class of the Iron Dog race in Alaska.

Bergeron is owner of K.E. Bergeron Mechanical Systems in Keene, and Bernier owns Red Barn Logistics in Hancock. They are a rare New England team and the only all-New Hampshire team to ever compete in the race, which covers 2,503 miles of Alaskan back country.

The race began on Feb, 15 at Big Lake, Alaska, traveled to the race route’s northernmost point approximately 300 miles north of Nome, and concluded back at Big Lake on Feb. 22. Thirty-two teams signed up for the race, and 16 teams finished.

Last year, Bergeron and Bernier made their first bid for veteran status. Just 200 miles from the finish line, the team’s race ended at a water crossing with Bergeron’s sled at the bottom of a river. Bergeron was not injured, but the loss of his snowmobile ended the race for the team.

Bergeron and Bernier entered to race again in 2025 and began preparations in the fall of 2024, including new snowmobiles with custom fabrications, tuning sleds for optimum performance, race logistics and chasing the snow with trips to Alaska and Quebec for training rides.

On Dec. 14th, while in Alaska, Bergeron received the call that his 21-year-old son had suffered life-threatening injuries from an accidental fall. Bergeron raced back east to be with his family. All plans and thoughts for the race were put on hold.

“Our oldest child, Jason, had fallen some 53 feet onto frozen ground and was paralyzed from the sternum down,” said Bergeron.

Thirty-one days after the accident, Jason began to show signs of movement in his lower extremities, and he continued to recover over the weeks that followed. Getting Jason admitted to the Spaulding (Mass General) Spinal Rehabilitation Center in Boston allowed Bergeron to make the decision, just 18 days before the race start, to ask Bernier if he would take on the race with him as planned.

“After discussing with Jason and the rest of my family, I made the decision to race. I was thankful that my race partner had kept up his physical and mental preparation for the race. It was meant to be,” said Bergeron.

In additional to challenges inherent in the world’s longest snowmobile race, the lack of snow in southern parts of the race route created particularly challenging conditions this year. Bergeron and Bernier completed the race in 97 hours, 4 minutes and 34 seconds of active race time.

Seeing it through earned them the “Iron Dog Red Lantern Award”. The award is bestowed upon the last team to finish the race; it represents perseverance and determination to complete the race despite being the last to finish.

“After being so close last year, and everything leading up to the start of this year’s race, it was very emotional for us to make it across the finish line,” said Bernier.

Prior to their Pro Class races in 2024 and 2025, Bergeron and Bernier both rode the Iron Dog Expedition Class, which ends in Nome—a 1,100 mile course. Both completed the Expedition Class each year for the three years prior to Pro Class, and Bergeron has crossed the expedition class finish line a total of six times.

The race course covers some of Alaska’s most-remote and rugged terrain through some of the harshest winter conditions. Fuel and oil are provided at designated checkpoints, but all other logistics are the responsibility of the teams. Teams must provide all their own gear, tools and safety equipment, and plan their own lodging and meals for the duration of the race.

-- Submitted by Kristen Bernier